First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Tomorrow will be the first "big" cleaning I'm doing of all parts of the mask, headgear, tubing, etc. I know that the tech at the DME suggested I use something as simple as ivory soap or even using a vinegar/water mix for the humidifier tank (She spent about two seconds covering the cleaning of my mask/machine, which is approx how long I was able to retain that little information ) For what it's worth, I have the heated tubing in addition to the equipment listed in my signature, so I don't know if certain soaps would degrade the hosing or anything.

What liquid soaps do you all use to clean your mask/headgear/tubing/etc?

My mask got a funky smell after about 5 months. Several times with dish soap and hot water didn't improve it much. Had a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, only used a little and that did the trick. Something to keep in mind.

You'll get 100 different answers from 100 different people, all the way from clean everything everyday to rarely clean anything but the filter. Doing a search (top left corner of the window) on cleaning will give you more information than you can read in a day, then you can make your own choices based on your own need for clean.

My personal routine - for my DreamWear cushion, a light spritz with diluted baby shampoo, then a warm water rinse, once a week or so. Change the filter when it's not pure white. Period. (I don't use the humidifier any more, but when I did, I emptied it every morning and left it open to dry. It never needed more than that, but I only used it for about 6 months.)

Some links to related reading material.

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Den

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I wipe my mask each morning with an alcohol scent free baby wipe. When I do clean, I use Baby Shampoo. If the humidifier has sediment (rarely), I use 1/4 vinegar to 3/4 water and let it set for a few minutes. My hose is dry and I haven't seen the need to wash it for a while. When I did, I just put the baby shampoo water through it then rinsed with water while keeping the electrical connector end dry. I did initially buy the hose brushes but they were a waste of money.

Whatever makes you happy, helps your supplies last, and does NOT cost an arm and a leg.
Simple is good.

I use half white vinegar/Half warm water to clean everything, except the silicone parts. Cleaning this way make it feel like my CPAP is on Steroids. I have been doing this for three years and have had no problems with the equipment deteriorating, etc. I use dish soap to clean the silicone parts. I let everything air dry. Every month, I wash the CPAP straps with dish soap, rinse in water and then let them air dry.

I use Method's Sea Minerals liquid dish soap because it has a neutral aroma and I like their products. I use only a drop or two in half a bathroom sink of cool water to swish everything in, even the heated humidifier tube. I run everything under running water to rinse, and also let running water go through the hoses to rinse out any soap. I'm in a soft water area, so haven't had to worry (yet) about mineral deposits. Everything is air dried, with hoses draped over a towel bar to drain.

Jean

Soothest Sleep wrote:I use Method's Sea Minerals liquid dish soap because it has a neutral aroma and I like their products. I use only a drop or two in half a bathroom sink of cool water to swish everything in, even the heated humidifier tube. I run everything under running water to rinse, and also let running water go through the hoses to rinse out any soap. I'm in a soft water area, so haven't had to worry (yet) about mineral deposits. Everything is air dried, with hoses draped over a towel bar to drain.

Jean

I suppose you clean the hose because you are afraid of germs...then hang the hose to dry in the most germ filled room in the house.

It's pretty easy to run filtered CPAP air through a recently washed hose/mask/humidifier.

I don't wash my equipment on a strict schedule, but I can generally tell when it needs to be done. I wash, reassemble, then run the CPAP for ~10 min. It dries pretty quickly.

Hi,

Every night before retiring I wash my nasal pillow with Surcare washing up liquid.

Every Sunday morning I clean all other equipment again with Surcare washing up liquid. The hose is left in a bowl for a few minutes then flushed through with the washing liquid and thoroughly rinsed. The elasticated head strap and small hose is also washed at the same time.

As I live in a hard water area the water container is left in a bowl full of vinegar/water, this descales and removes mineral deposits. I then clean the container and rinse through.

The filter in the machine is checked and changed as and when.